Lent 1: The Spirit

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I appreciate the emphasis on spiritual disciplines during the season of Lent. This year, I want to look at the example of Jesus and each week highlight something in His life on earth that we are to pursue.

Today, we start at the beginning of Jesus' ministry: Mark 1:9-11
"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit decending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.""

I have a simple point to make: Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and we need to be as well. This is affirmed in Paul's letter to the Ephesians 5:18b, "be filled with the Spirit". How we are filled with the Spirit is a topic of much discussion throughout the history of the Church and across denominations today. So what are we to do? Perhaps the first step is just to ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit and then see what happens. We can follow God's direction on this assured that He will lead (Psalm 32:8).

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